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'Patented Ju1y'25, 1911.

LESLEY J'. LVICNAIR, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

PROJECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1911.

Application filed June 26, 1909. Serial No. 564,519.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, LESLEY J. McNAiR, a citizen of the United States of America, lieutenant in the United States Army, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to projectiles and particularly to an improved construction in which a rotating band of heavy cross section may be used and may be readily applied without the necessity of being upset or reduced in diameter and without the use of any special apparatus such as dies, or hydraulic presses.

My invention also contemplates the use of improved means for preventing the leakage of gases under the rotating band and of means for preventing the slipping of the rotating band on its seat.

In projectiles for use with rifled guns, a rotating band or ring must be secured to the projectile for engagement with the rifling to transmit rotation from the latter to the projectile. These rings are usually made of relatively soft material, such as copper, which will be grooved by the lands of the rifling and thus take the rotation from the latter. It has heretofore been the common practice to cut an annular channel in the surface of the projectile and into it to force a copper ring formed of sufficient diameter to slide over the projectile. rFliese rings were originally upset or shrunk in, so to speak, by hammering, but the result is now more commonly accomplished by forcing the projectile and ring through a tapered die, or by the use of a multiple plunger hydraulic press acting on several points of the circumference of the ring simultaneously. All of these methods of reducing the circumference of a comparatively large ring to fit a seat of less diameter', are cumbersome and expensive and preclude the use of a ring of more than a very limited thickness. As a consequence of the use of such rings of small cross section the rings frequently become broken by centrifugal force when the projectile leaves the gun, the flying fragments of the broken ring being a serious menace to the safety of the gunners. By the use of my improved construction, all of these difficulties are obviated.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, I have illustrated in detail one specific modification of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction shown, as it is-obvious that numerous changes may be made therein.

In these drawings Figure l is a side view of a projectile embodying my invention, onehalf in section and one-half in elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view upon an enlarged Scale of a portion of the projectile shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line III-III of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings in detail, l is a projectile having a cavity 2 for the reception of an exploding charge, a plug 3 being provided for closing this cavity. 4 is the rotating band or ring which is mounted upon the seat 5 and against the shoulder 6 formed on the projectile. The seat and shoulder or one of them are preferably knurled or otherwise roughened as shown at 7, in order to insure a firm grip of the rotating band thereupon and prevent relative movement between the rotating band and the projectile. To retain the rotating band upon the projectile and to take up the shock to which it is subjected when the projectile is seated in loading the gun, I provide the plug 3 with a flange 8 which engages the rear face of the band 4L and prevents rearward movement of the latter. To seal the joint between the flange and the band and prevent the leakage of gases under the latter I preferably form a fin 9 at the forward edge of the flange, which is sufficiently thin to be bent forward under the influence of the powder pressure and forced in close contact with the rotating band. The joint between the fiange and the band is thus effectually sealed. I preferably form this iin by cutting a groove lO in the periphery of the flange near the forward face of the latter'.

To assemble the parts of my projectile the ring or band 4L which is made of a diameter to closely fit the seat 5 is forced over the latter and against the shoulder 6. The shell is then charged and the plug 3 screwed in, when the flange 8 will seat against the rear face of the band 4: and positively retain the latter in position. The shell is now ready for use.

As will be seen from the foregoing description, a structure is provided in which the parts may be assembled without special apparatus, such as tapered dies, or hydraulic presses. A rotating band of any thickness or cross section desired may be used, no greater difliculty being experienced in applying a thick band than a thin one.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In combination with a projectile having a seat for a rotating band and a cavity for the reception of a charge, a rotating band mounted upon said seat, and a plug for closing said cavity having a flange engaging the rear face of said rotating band, said ange having a thin annular sealing fin lying in contact with said rear face.

2. ln combination with a projectile having a seat for a rotating band, a rotating band thereon, a member secured to said projectile having an outwardly projecting iange engaging the rear face of said rotating band, and an annular. groove out in the periphery of said flange near the forward v face of the lat-ter to form a wall or iin lying in contact with the rear face of said band, said wall or iin being suioiently thin to bend under the influence of the powder pressure and seal the joint between the flange and the rotating band.

LESLEY J. MCNAIR. Witnesses:

EDMUND QUINCY MOSES, OLIVER WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents, Washington, D. C. 

